NASA is evaluating successful efforts by Russian cosmonauts to seal off small air leaks in a vestibule leading to an aft docking port on the International Space Station. The agency confirmed that pressure in the transfer tunnel has been stable since the repairs, indicating that the small leaks may have been sealed. This development could pave the way for the delayed launch of the Axiom-4 research mission as early as Thursday.
The mission, originally planned for last Tuesday, was repeatedly delayed due to high winds and troubleshooting issues with an oxygen leak in the crew’s rocket. However, NASA managers decided they needed more time to assess recent efforts to stop or minimize air leaks in a Russian vestibule known as the PrK.
The leak rates seen earlier could be related to “a small amount of air flowing into the transfer tunnel across the hatch seal from the main part of the station.” By changing pressure in the transfer tunnel and monitoring over time, teams are evaluating the condition of the transfer tunnel configuration, resulting in an updated launch opportunity for the private astronaut mission.
The Axiom-4 crew, led by Commander Peggy Whitson, will carry out a full slate of science research and technology demonstrations during their two-week mission. They were trained for space station operations and will have full use of the U.S. segment of the orbital lab.
If the launch schedule holds up, the crew aims to dock at the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module around 10:30 a.m. on Friday.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-evaluating-data-indicating-air-leaks-aboard-space-station-have-been-sealed-off